Senior Reed looks to expand all-around game in final year
Senior forward Kristy Reed holds many responsibilities on the field, but one job overshadows all others — scoring goals.
“As the center forward I have to make sure I keep the field wide enough and deep enough so my teammates can get open,” Reed said. “But most importantly I have to score.”
Reed returns for her final field hockey season as the team’s reigning goal leader with 12 goals in 2003.
She is 15 goals away for CMU’s all-time Division I-A record, having netted 26 goals in three seasons.
“It’s not a huge goal of mine to break that record, but I am definitely capable of scoring that many this season,” Reed said. “If it happens, it happens.”
However, Donna Provenzola, who played from 1973-76 has the most goals in CMU history, when Central competed in the AIAW. She scored 62 career goals when the Chippewas were in the now defunct league.
As much goal-scoring ability that Reed has, she takes comfort in knowing she’s not alone.
“I have a lot of teammates that are also capable of scoring,” Reed said. “I don’t feel any pressure to score a lot of goals.”
Always an able scorer, Reed has worked diligently in the offseason to improve her passing skills.
As a freshman, Reed ran into a rough spot, as poor offensive production was chalked up to passing struggles. In that season, she only scored one goal.
Coach Cristy Freese has worked with Reed to help her improve her all-around skills and sees Reed as a key part of the team’s core.
“She is someone we have certainly built the team around,” Freese said. “But the pressure is off her because of her teammates that are also capable of scoring.”
Since her freshman season, Reed has become a more versatile player and has taken pride in working hard in the transition game.
“I work hard to get back on defense when players on the other team may not hustle back,” she said.
The improvement of her game led her inclusion on the All-MAC team last season. With that, she may well become the focus of opposing defensive strategy. She may even see double teams to keep her away from the ball.
“Teams would be making a huge mistake by doubling me,” Reed said. “That will leave my teammates wide open and they will score goals even easier.”
CMU was picked to finish fourth in the MAC in the preseason coaches poll.
But Reed is not letting that fact stop her from accomplishing what she thinks her team is capable of.
“We are underestimated in the conference,” she said. “We are capable of winning the MAC and the MAC Tournament and then going to the NCAA Tournament.”
No matter what Central accomplishes this season, you can bet on Reed scoring goals.
